Would you like help to:

·         Improve your general health and wellbeing

·         Reduce feelings of isolation

·         Discover local self-help groups, clubs and befriending agencies

·         Volunteer your own time and experiences

·         Find bereavement support

·         Access social groups and parenting classes

·         Explore support for housing, employment, benefits, debt & legal advice

·         Become more active

·         Get involved in your local community

This help is now available from Social Prescribers. Social Prescribers are employed by all the Primary Care Networks (groups of GP Surgeries) in West Berkshire to support residents across the area. Social prescribing is a way of working with people in a holistic way to address their non-medical needs and enable them to take greater control of their health and well-being. It’s about recognising that non-clinical issues can affect people’s physical health. By supporting people to improve their own health and well-being it can reduce the NHS demand and offer support to other local services.

To ask for help or for more information please contact the social prescriber in your area (you just need to be a registered patient at one of the surgeries in their area to access their help):

West Reading Villages PCN: Chapel Row, Theale, Mortimer, and Boathouse surgery

Lucy Hill lucy.hill17@nhs.net Twitter and Facebook: @WRVsocial

West Berkshire Rural PCN: Hungerford, Kintbury & Woolton Hill, and Lambourn

Rebecca Neeves rebecca.neeves@nhs.net Twitter: @WBRural_SPLW

A34 PCN: Strawberry Hill, Eastfield House, and Downland

Karen Thomas karen.thomas53@nhs.net

Kennet PCN: Thatcham, Burdwood, and Falkland

Anthony Roots anthony.roots@nhs.net and Kim Westall  kim.westall@nhs.net

Author: Penny Post

Penny Post is a community notice board serving West Berkshire, Wantage, Swindon, Marlborough and surrounding areas so there